5 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari Murchison Falls Park & Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris – Overview

The 5 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari Murchison Falls Park & Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris takes you to the Uganda Wildlife destination of Murchison Falls National Park and Kibale National Park.

The trip presents the opportunities of viewing the Big five of Wild game beginning with Rhinos in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions and Leopards in Murchison Falls National Park along with other impressive species like the Jackson’s Hartebeest, the Rothschild Giraffes, the aquatics along the Nile River including the Nile crocodiles and Hippos and if lucky the shoe bill stork.

The safari also allows you to explore the world’s powerful water fall – the Murchison Falls where the waters of the Nile are forced to pass through a less than 7m gorge forming a thunderous roar with a plume of spray marked by a trade mark rainbow.

The extension to Kibale Forest National Park presents a magical encounter with the Chimpanzees – the man’s closest relative thriving in the verdant tropical forest of Kibale dubbed the primate capital of the world.

5 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari Murchison Falls Park & Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris – Highlights

Day 1: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park. Make a stop en route at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track white Rhinos

Day 2: Undertake a morning game drive, Nile launch cruise in the afternoon and hike to the top of the falls

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park. Whole day drive exploring the rich country side

Day 4: Do Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest and afternoon Bigodi wetland Sanctuary

Day 5: Drive back to Kampala. Optional cycling in Mpanga Tea Estates and the tour to Nakayima tree

5 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari Murchison Falls Park & Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park. Make a Stop En-route at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to Track White Rhinos

Drive to Murchison Falls National Park 311km about 5 hours drive departing at 6:30am from Kampala. You enjoy the scenic landscapes of central Uganda including the flat stretches of Nakasongora with possible sights of Ankole long horned cows before approaching Nakitooma 115km from Kampala.

At this point, you branch off from the main road to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary 7km to the Headquarters. You undertake the walk in the Savannah thicket of Ziwa in search of the southern white Rhinos and this experience can take 1 – 2 hours from which you settle for lunch at Kabalega dinner before proceeding on the drive to Murchison. Arrive in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge / Bakers Lodge
Midrange: Murchison River Lodge
Budget / Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge / Tent @Fort Murchison

Day 2: Undertake a Morning Game Drive, Nile Launch Cruise in The Afternoon And Hike to The Top of The Falls

After breakfast, you embark on the game drive in the rolling Savannah landscapes of Northern Murchison.

The encounter commences at 7am and can last 3 – 4 hours allowing you to explore the counts of wild game in detail.

The game drive offers you the possibility to explore the Big four namely the elephants, Buffaloes, lions and leopard.

The other wild game in Murchison that might be explored include Rothschild’s giraffes, hyenas, Jackson’s Hartebeest hartebeests, Deffasa waterbucks, bushbucks, oribi, Uganda Kobs among others.

Retreat from the activity to the lodge for relaxation and lunch after which you connect to Paraa Jetty for an afternoon Nile launch cruise.

The boat trip departs at 2:30pm and lasts 3 hours. On the waters of the Nile, you have chances of exploring aquatic species including the Nile crocodiles – world’s second largest reptile, Hippos, Water dwelling birds like the Shoebill stork along with land animals that draw to the river banks to quench their thirst.

Upon reaching the bottom of the falls, you embark on the hike to the top of the falls. The hike takes you through a challenging narrow path following the Nile River as crushes its head on the ancient impermeable rocks that have stood in its way for centuries past.

You enjoy the roaring sound of the Nile which is accompanied by a plume of spray and a trade mark rainbow.

The top of the falls features a nice scenic view impressive for photography. Connect with your driver guide on the top of the falls to connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge / Bakers Lodge
Midrange: Murchison River Lodge
Budget / Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge / Tent @Fort Murchison

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park. Whole Day Drive Exploring The Rich Country Side

After breakfast, embark on the drive to Kibale 441km about 9 hours drive passing through the verdant lush countryside including Masindi, Hoima, Kagadi before approaching Fort Portal.

You make a lunch stop in Hoima and while approaching Fort Portal, you are welcomed by the fabled mountains of the moon rising to 5,109m above sea level.

The towering palace building of the Kingdom of Tooro also presents an impressive scenic welcome in the backyard of Fort Portal town. Proceed to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation
Up market / Luxury: Primate Lodge / Ndali Lodge / Kyaninga Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Chimpanzee Guesthouse / Kibale Forest Camp
Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse / Tent @Kibale Forest Camp

Day 4: Do Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest And Afternoon Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

After breakfast, gather at Kanyanchu Tourism Center to catch up for chimpanzee trekking briefing commencing at 8am.

The briefing is conducted by the Park rangers and can last about 30 minutes after which you head to the jungle in search of the man’s closest cousin – the Chimpanzee.

Besides the chimpanzees, Kibale National Park supports a count of 12 other species of primate including the Black and White colobus Monkeys, the Blue tailed Monkeys, L’Hoest’s Monkeys, the Olive Baboons among others.

The Park also features a count of 371 impressive tree species among which include the Warbughia Ugandensis and Parinari exelsa among other lovely flora.

Kibale is a home to 375 species of birds including the Green-breasted Pitta, Black Bee-eater, Crowned Eagle, Western Nicator, Little Greenbul, Red-chested Owlet, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, African Grey Parrot, Blue-breasted Kingfisher and Brown-chested Alethe among other species. All these are at your disposal to explore once you are in the Chimpanzee forest.

The Chimpanzee trekking tend to take 2 – 5 hours where you have opportunities to explore the Chimpanzees feeding, copulating, patrolling, make pant hooting calls among other interesting aspects about this brilliant apes.

The viewing experience is limited to one hour for purposes of conservation after which you return to the starting point to enjoy your packed lunch.

In the afternoon, you connect to Bigodi wetland for a thrilling wetland walk to stand chances of exploring the sanctuary’s lush flora, the 138 bird species including the Great Blue Turaco and the swamp wildlife like the Sitatunga.

The walk can be extended to explore the community including the home of the traditional healer after which you connect to lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation
Up market / Luxury: Primate Lodge / Ndali Lodge / Kyaninga Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Chimpanzee Guesthouse / Kibale Forest Camp
Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse / Tent @Kibale Forest Camp

Day 5: Drive Back to Kampala. Optional Cycling in Mpanga Tea Estates And The Tour to Nakayima Tree

This is dedicated for your transfer back to Kampala 326km about 6 hours drive. You can take an optional Mpanga Tea Estate enjoying the adventure ride through the estates where the lush green tea plantation cover the undulating hills forming a fascinating protected human landscape. You retreat from the tour and proceed to Kampala.

A stop can be made in Mubende to explore the Nakayima heritage tree a pilgrimage site for the traditionalists in the area and beyond.

The tree ranges back to the Chwezi era and is named after Nakayima – the wife of Ndahura the first Muchwezi ruler.

Settle for lunch in Masindi and proceed to Kampala arriving in the afternoon to mark the end of the tour.

End of The 5 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari Murchison Falls Park & Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris

Safari Inclusions

• Gorilla Permit (for gorilla trekking safaris)
• Chimpanzee Permit (for chimpanzee trekking safaris)
• Full Board Accommodation on Safari
• Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
• Fuel
• Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
• Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
• Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
• Bottled water while on safari
• Border crossing fees (for cross border safaris)

Safari Exclusions

• General tips for the driver guide, site guides and service staff at the lodges
• Laundry Services
• Other Beverages / drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
• International Flights (Arranged on request)
• Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
• Visas
• Optional Activity fees
• Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
• Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
• Accommodation in Kampala or Kigali unless it is part of the Itinerary (Arranged on request)